Role of BCG and Measles vaccination in protection against COVID-19 infection and severity of the disease: A pilot case-control study

Alok  Ranjan; Purushottam  Kumar; Manisha  Verma; Chandramani  Singh; Sanjay  Pandey; Bijaya Nanda  Naik; Santosh Kumar  Nirala; Rajath  Rao

doi:10.55489/njcm1322022160

Authors

Alok Ranjan Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Purushottam Kumar Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Manisha Verma Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Chandramani Singh Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Sanjay Pandey Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Bijaya Nanda Naik Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna
Santosh Kumar Nirala drsantoshnirala@gmail.com
Rajath Rao Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Patna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm1322022160

Keywords:

BCG, Measles, Vaccination, COVID-19 protection

Abstract

Background: The role of BCG and MMR/Measles vaccination in reducing the burden of COVID-19 has been based on ecological data mostly. We planned this explorative pilot case-control study to understand the role of vaccination with Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) and measles administered as part of MMR vaccine on COVID 19.

Methodology: A case-control study was conducted in AIIMS Patna during December 2020 and January 2021. A total of 100 COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR test were taken as cases, and for each case, age and gender-matched SARS-COV-2 negative individual was taken as control. A study tool containing a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used.

Results: The unadjusted odds of COVID-19 were found to be significantly higher among BCG vaccinated [1.88(1.03-4.4)] and MMR vaccinated individuals [5.06(2.34-10.90]. BCG vaccine was not found to have an independent effect on COVID-19 after adjusting for tobacco use, MMR vaccination status, unprotected contact with SARS-COV-2 positive patients, and co-morbidities. But Measles vaccine was found to independently increase the risk of COVID-19 [AOR: 4.505(1.8-11.3)].

Conclusion: BCG vaccination status was not found to be an independent predictor of COVID-19. Further studies with large sample size and better study design (cohort, randomized trials) need to be conducted.

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